I know this is rare, but apparently there are still a few Federal Magistrates out in the hinterlands who have actually read the US Constitution and thinks it’s important.

The Associated Press reports Feds retreat on Amazon buyers’ identities

MADISON, Wisconsin – U.S. prosecutors have withdrawn a subpoena seeking the identities of thousands of people who bought used books through online retailer Amazon.com Inc., newly unsealed court records show.

The withdrawal came after a judge ruled the customers have a right to keep their reading habits from the government.

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If you wonder how the University of Florida can hire a football coach for $2 million/year, one of the reasons is the concoction mixed up by Dr. Robert Cade, UF Researcher Who Invented Gatorade

Now sold in 80 countries in dozens of flavors, Gatorade was born thanks to a question from former Gator Coach Dwayne Douglas, Cade said in a 2005 interview with The Associated Press.

He asked, “Doctor, why don’t football players wee-wee after a game?”

“That question changed our lives,” Cade said.

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The Harry Potter series has concluded, so it’s time to find a new target in children’s literature.

The BBC reports on the controversy:Golden Compass author hits back [They note “Warning: This story contains plot spoilers”]

The author of the book on which the new film The Golden Compass is based has hit back at critics who accuse him of peddling “candy-coated atheism”.

Phillip Pullman dismissed as “absolute rubbish” accusations by the US-based Catholic League that the film promotes atheism and denigrates Christianity.

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Ted Barlow Disease has created another blank on my blogroll. Peripetia has succumbed.

Karen had some medical problems that interfered with her blogging and Len, Der Verrückte Philosoph, was filling in, but now blogger gives you a 404 message. Sorry to see them go.

Someone else saw this first, and when I find the reference I’ll link to it, but if you are interested in the US mortgage meltdown, you have to read the European papers to find out about it. Outside of a few specialty newspapers, there is almost no national reporting on this disaster, and be aware it is a disaster. This is going to end up worse than the savings and loan mess, and the national press isn’t reporting on it.

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